Student Sustainability Advisory Board

The SAS Sustainability Student Advisory Board seeks to provide students with a forum to voice their concerns and implement ideas pertaining to sustainability. The board helps guide future sustainability efforts by:

Creating a network of students who demonstrate a strong leadership role in sustainability

Focusing on major community outreach programs each year

Institutionalizing a community of sustainability at Penn

SSAB Member Profiles

Sara Allan

Expected Graduation Year: 2015

Major: Environmental Studies

What first sparked your interest in sustainability:

An amazing lower school science teacher sparked my interested in the natural environment and sustainability.

What "green" activities and organizations do you participate in on and off campus:

Athletic Eco-Reps, head of the Political Committee of Penn Environmental Group, webmaster of Student Sustainability Association at Penn, member of the Penn Haven Housing Co-Op, organizer for 350 Philadelphia, Advisory Board Member of Green New Yorkers

What is your Dream Job after you graduate?

Corporate Sustainability Officer

Jasey Cardenas

Expected Graduation Year: 2014

Major: Psychology

What first sparked your interest in Sustainability?

In high school I did a science fair project that produced energy from the sun through the use of a Fresnel lens to heat water to turn a turbine. Solar panels were one of the most efficient ways to capture the sun’s energy and convert it to electrical power, so I wanted to find a way to find an alternative with a better efficiency percentage. The research I did through this project has taught me the importance of sustainability as a whole.

What "green" activities and organizations do you participate in on and off campus:

On campus I have volunteered with different organizations that go out into the city and help with “green” volunteering work. The Sustainability Advisory Board is the first organization where I have had direct input on campus where I can help the school go green.

What is your Dream Job after you graduate?

To be the President and General Major for the Atlanta Braves where I would be able to help improve the players in the Braves organization as well as help the organization as a whole go green as president.

Alex Ghanem

Expected Graduation Year: 2015

Major: Biological Basis of Behavior, Minor in Jazz and Popular Music

What first sparked your interest in sustainability?

I watched other people carelessly use and throw away resources as if it were no big deal. As I matured, I started to realize all of the implications the billions of people have on this Earth, and how lucky we are to have these things.

What "green" activities and organizations do you participate in on and off campus?

I'm a Co-Group Leader for Rodin College House Eco-Reps, and I was in SSAB last year.

What is your Dream Job after you graduate?

I guess my dream job would be a professional world traveler/world tour guide, or an astronaut. I really want to travel all throughout the world.

Jessica Mangin

Expected Graduation Year: 2014

Major: Architecture

What first sparked your interest in sustainability:

I traveled to Norway, Sweden, and Denmark this past summer as part of a program studying sustainable architecture and urban planning, and it really opened my eyes to all the ways that actual design can be made more energy efficient and sustainable.

What "green" activities and organizations do you participate in on and off campus:

Although SSAB is the only "green" organization that I am currently a member of, I like to think that I practice simple "green" habits every day, like conserving lights and using recyclable bags at the grocery store.

Dream Job after you graduate:

My dream job is to become an architect, and more specifically, to contribute to a generation that puts more emphasis on designing smart and efficiently.